{"id":3202,"date":"2026-02-06T15:22:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/?post_type=library&p=3202"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T20:57:32","slug":"transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options","status":"publish","type":"library","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/library\/transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Transcript-Designated Degree Concentrations and Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

Policy<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Graduate students and faculty in some graduate degree programs have expressed an interest in having official recognition of a cohesive body of coursework with a specific focus that is offered within a degree program. For purposes of official recognition on a student\u2019s transcript, this body of coursework will be called a transcript-designated concentration. This document establishes the requirements and procedures for initiating, changing, or discontinuing such concentrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Requirements for Transcript-Designated Concentrations and Options\n
      \n
    1. A concentration consists of a minimum of 15 credits taken from list of qualifying<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. courses, excluding common courses required of all students in the degree program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Qualifying courses must be offered with sufficient frequency to prevent requests for course substitutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. The curriculum will be approved by the GFC and listed in the Graduate School Bulletin. Credit distributions may be listed in the Bulletin as long as a list of qualifying courses is provided to the Graduate School (see B.1.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. A maximum of 6 transfer credits from an institution other than 51ÁÔÆæ may count toward a concentration, subject to Graduate School transfer policy. 51ÁÔÆæ graduate coursework taken prior to admission to the current degree program is subject to standard transfer limits. Any transfer credits applied toward a concentration are part of the total transfer limit for that degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. A maximum of 3 credits of a capstone experience such as thesis, practicum, internship, or research in the area of concentration is allowed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. A maximum of 20% of the credits required for the concentration may be taken as independent study.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. A student may not earn a concentration and a certificate based on identical coursework.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is required in all 51ÁÔÆæ courses applied toward the concentration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    10. Entrance and capstone options for master\u2019s degrees will be designated on the transcript. Programs that elect to opt-out of designating these options on the transcript will seek approval through the normal governance process (See B.).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    11. Procedures for Requesting or Changing Transcript-Designated Concentrations and Options\n
        \n
      1. The process for establishing a graduate level, transcript-designated concentration is identified in the 51ÁÔÆæ Academic Approval Matrix. For purposes of this academic action, the transcript-designated concentration is considered a submajor. The request to establish a transcript-designated concentration must include compelling reason(s) for posting the concentration on the transcript.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. The process for dropping a graduate level, transcript-designated concentration also is identified in the 51ÁÔÆæ Academic Approval Matrix. For purposes of this academic action, the transcript-designated concentration is considered a submajor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. An Online Program Change (OPC) form should be completed and submitted if changes to an already approved graduate level, transcript-designated concentration are warranted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Verification Process\n
          \n
        1. The concentration will be posted on a student\u2019s transcript upon degree conferral. Concentrations will not be posted external to a degree program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. The graduation application will be modified to enable departments to report completion of concentration. Departments will be required to identify courses from the student\u2019s transcript or program of study that apply toward the concentration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Governance Approved Graduate Transcript Designations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          PAWS: Degree<\/th>PAWS: Academic Plan<\/th>PAWS: Academic Sub-Plan<\/th>PAWS: Academic Sub-Plan Tracks<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
          Certificate<\/td>Certificate Program, Min 15 credits<\/td>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
          Master’s Degree1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>Master’s & School Psychology (Ed.S) Program, Min 30 credits<\/td>Option: Entrance Path2<\/a><\/sup>

          Option: Capstone Path          3<\/a><\/sup>

          Concentration: Course based academic differentiation, Min 15 credits within a program<\/td>          		Track: Prescribed set of courses within a concentration<\/td><\/tr>
          Doctoral Degree4<\/a><\/sup><\/td>Doctoral Program, Min. 54 credits<\/td>Concentration: Course based academic differentiation, Min 15 credits within a program

          Minor Option A: Min. 8 credits different program or different concentration within student’s program<\/td>          		Track: Prescribed set of courses within a concentration<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Table Footnotes<\/h4>\n\n\n
          1. Master’s Degree: MA, MArch, MS, MBA, MFA, MHRLR, MLIS, MLS, MM, MN, MPA, MPH, MSP, MSW, MUP, Education Specialist Degree: Ed.S. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
          2. Entrance Path Examples: Integrated Bachelor’s to Master’s; International Pathways \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
          3. Capstone Path Examples: Thesis, Capstone Project, Capstone Exam, Integrative Capstone Course, Clinical, Advanced, Curatorial, Capstone Portfolio

            Option (Capstone Path) capstone names listed are examples. Governance will create and approve inaugural list of capstone names. Any capstone name to be added after inaugural is implemented must go through the governance approval process.             \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
          4. Doctoral Degree: PhD, DPT, DNP \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n

            Listing on Transcript<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • The Degree, Program, Minor Option A, and Option (Entrance Path and Capstone Path) will be listed on the transcript automatically. Departments can choose to opt-out of having the Option (Capstone Path) show on the transcript by going through the governance approval process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The Concentration and Track must go through the governance approval process to be listed on the transcript.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Sample Master’s Degree Appearance on Transcript<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

              Note: Only governance approved capstone options will appear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Master of Science
                Occupational Therapy MS
                Option: Capstone Project
                Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Master of Science
                Engineering MS
                Option: Bachelor’s to Master’s
                Concentration: Electrical and Computer Engineering
                Option: Thesis
                Conferred: 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Master of Science
                Management MS
                Concentration: Professional Accounting
                Track: Taxation
                Option: Integrative Capstone Course
                Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Education Specialist
                School Psychology Ed.S.
                Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Sample Doctoral Degree Appearance on Transcript<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • Doctor of Philosophy
                  Mathematics PhD
                  Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Doctor of Philosophy
                  Biological Sciences PhD
                  Minor: Chemistry
                  Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Doctor of Philosophy
                  Educational Psychology PhD
                  Concentration: Counseling Psychology
                  Minor: Psychology
                  Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Doctor of Nursing Practice
                  Nursing Practice DNP
                  Conferred 2017-05-20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1287,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"[{\"id\":\"926d4848-fc3c-4f79-b5b8-cdfe6e8adb5d\",\"content\":\"Master's Degree: MA, MArch, MS, MBA, MFA, MHRLR, MLIS, MLS, MM, MN, MPA, MPH, MSP, MSW, MUP, Education Specialist Degree: Ed.S.\"},{\"id\":\"18c5d957-a21b-40b3-b18d-506c134db639\",\"content\":\"Entrance Path Examples: Integrated Bachelor's to Master's; International Pathways\"},{\"id\":\"1320daa2-ea36-4ab9-82ea-121ba21a6c47\",\"content\":\"Capstone Path Examples: Thesis, Capstone Project, Capstone Exam, Integrative Capstone Course, Clinical, Advanced, Curatorial, Capstone Portfolio

                  Option (Capstone Path) capstone names listed are examples. Governance will create and approve inaugural list of capstone names. Any capstone name to be added after inaugural is implemented must go through the governance approval process.\"},{\"id\":\"91173fce-66a0-4269-958a-f87bbc7e998a\",\"content\":\"Doctoral Degree: PhD, DPT, DNP\"}]","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[17,50],"topic":[22],"class_list":["post-3202","library","type-library","status-publish","hentry","category-faculty","category-faculty-general","topic-academics"],"yoast_head":"\nTranscript-Designated Degree Concentrations and Options - Policy Library<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/library\/transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Transcript-Designated Degree Concentrations and Options\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/library\/transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Policy Library\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-11T20:57:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/policy\\\/library\\\/transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/policy\\\/library\\\/transcript-designated-degree-concentrations-and-options\\\/\",\"name\":\"Transcript-Designated Degree Concentrations and Options - 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